Cannot create local printer port using UNC name

Charles Wright 1 Reputation point
2021-10-17T14:27:23.3+00:00

I’m running Windows-10 Home 19043.1288 dated 6/30/2021 and trying to connect an HP Deskjet D4200 printer which is plugged into the USB port of a Buffalo LinkStation LS210D NAS. The manual for this LinkStation model advertises its ability to make a printer connected to its USB port available to network-connected PCs. But following the instructions provided here fails.

Buffalo Tech Support has been unable to resolve the issue, so I'm turning to the Microsoft community.

I can browse the NAS by entering \192.168.1.202 into the address bar of Windows Explorer. In addition to displaying the several defined NAS file shares, Windows Explorer also displays an icon for a Network Printer for Windows named lp. Right-click > Properties for the lp icon displays:
Computer Name: 192.168.1.202
Computer Type: Windows NT 4.9 Server
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

But, right-click Open reports Printers: Error 0x00000709 and Right-click Connect displays a progress dialog titled Windows Printer Installation which almost immediately reports Add Printer: Connect to Printer: Windows couldn't connect to the printer.

Using Printers and Scanners to add a printer displays the expected travelling progress dots as Windows scans the system for printers. But Windows fails to find any printers. Clicking The printer that I want isn't listed link initiates the Add Printer wizard as expected. I then select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, Next, Create a new port, for Type of port, select Local Port, Next. In the Port Name dialog, enter \\192.168.1.202\lp then OK . The wizard reports Local Port: The parameter is incorrect.

Clearly, Windows is trying but failing to connect or to create an appropriate port. I could find nothing that might give insight into which parameter might be incorrect or how/where to provide a correct parameter or how to allow Windows to resolve the specified UNC address.

I can't find any tags which seem to be appropriate to this question. If this is the wrong forum on which to post this question, direction to an appropriate forum would be appreciated. Any help with how to connect to this device or to correctly create the port so that Windows can proceed with installation of the driver would be appreciated.

Windows Server Printing
Windows Server Printing
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Printing: Printer centralized deployment and management, scan and fax resources management, and document services
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  1. Luis T 1 Reputation point
    2021-10-19T04:39:53.267+00:00

    Today I had the same problem. I have a printer server with samba and all the machines with Windows 10 fail to print and fail to add a new printer. The error messages were not descriptive. My temporal solution was uninstall the next Windows updates:

    • KB5006670
    • KB5005539
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  2. Luis T 1 Reputation point
    2021-11-27T00:20:37.383+00:00

    The update KB5007253 fix the printer problem, it was released on November 22, 2021

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  3. Alan Morris 1,156 Reputation points
    2021-12-03T03:17:42.873+00:00

    @Luis T

    Thank you for confirming KB5007253 resolved the issue caused by the October security update.

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  4. Jai Bones 0 Reputation points
    2023-05-23T19:29:57.4933333+00:00

    Hi, I appreciate this is an old thread but it looked like it would have solved my issue (same as OP) however, I'm now on Windows 10 22H2 and the KB5007253 update isn't available for 22H2 when I look here: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5007253

    Is this 'fix' buried in another update that is compatible with my Win 10 version, please?